Chavis used his first performance of the New Year to lengthen his Northeast Conference lead in the weight throw. Competing for the first time since December 2, the fourth-year Mountaineer struck gold at George Mason’s Patriot Games. His 17.13m (56’ 2.5”) fling automatically earned the senior a spot in the IC4A Championships field. Chavis, the first NEC thrower to break the 17.00m barrier this season, owns a 79-centimeter lead over his closest NEC competitor - Wagner’s Lutfi Pocesta.